This awards season I fell in love with Lupita Nyong'o and while her Oscar speech was perfection, this, on beauty and compassion is important and true and enlightened and I urge everyone to watch.

"What actually sustains us, what is fundamentally beautiful is compassion. For yourself and for those around you. That kind of beauty enflames the heart and enchants the soul. It's what got Patsy in so much trouble with her master but it's also what has kept her story alive to this day... "

Which brings me to this... I spent a lot of time today thinking about "heroes" or more specifically, the female heroine. What differentiates her from the male archetype? What makes her the same? I do not want to (ever) suggest a human divide and am as big a fan as men as I am of women but the blatant sexism in Hollywood riles me up. It makes me mental. It is nothing compared to the injustice faced by much of the world but it's an injustice nonetheless and it's frankly, mortifying. (Even the Independent Spirit Awards nominated SIX "best male leads and only FIVE "best female leads"... because... there weren't enough... women... leads? Or..?)

Anyway, this is getting very ranty so I'll stop. However, and before I do, I would love to hear from you guys. What women are inspiring you at the moment? Writers, filmmakers, musicians, engineers, athletes, teachers, neighbors, sisters, strangers... Let's talk about our lady heroes, want to?